The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-06-03
The Better Part.

ITO be worthy oflove is even better thing
than to receive it, and this is not the end"
This sentence was the last one of a letter from
woman of fifty-five, who knew what she
was saying. The keenest joys of life had
never come to her. She had struggled with
fate, almost ever since she was a child, for q
livelihood for herself and dependent rela-
tive-struggles scantly rewarded by any
thanks or tenderness even from her who had
shared their fruit.
She had written much, and always purely,
but she had never been able to catch the
passing fancy, never made shit, and had
received but small returns for her labors,-
small returns in that which procures food and
clothing and comforts for the body.
Not for her those shining successes which
lift an author above want, and put him in a
position to do his best work. Bits of verse, -
the humble daisies of the poetic GARDEN
stories good rather than eat,-thcse were
her contributions to literature, likely to die
as soon as their author, leaving not single
immortelle to blossom on her grave.
No deep, dear human love had ever blessed
her. Early orphaned, she had no husband,
or brother, or father, to make home for her,
and she had never earned enough to make
one for herself She had louged, with all her
woman's heart, for love and fame and home,
and not one of her longings had been fulfilled.
Judged by the standard of this world, her
life had been failure, and she recognized
that, and spoke of it in the letter from which
we have quoted. But she would net so judge
herself If she had not gained all that she
sought, she had gained the best part of it.
II might be disconnected" she wrote, 'if l
stopped to think of the difference between
my wishes and my havings; but if l have not
prospered, at least have been fed ; and If l
have not been famous, at least have striven
to do good and not harm, and some humble
souls have thanked me for the help my words
have given them.
"And if | have not been loved, Mt least |
have tried not TO be unworthy of being so !;
and, after all, to be worthy of love is even
better thing than to receive it, and this is not
the end"
No, this is not the end. The only real
overthrow of life is when sense iriumphs
over soul, and we barter future glory for
present gain. To gain the whole world and
lose ones own soul, were to sell life itself for
a child's toy.
How brief all those things are for which
most of US strive! To-day we are here. We
concern ourselves about the fit of gown,
the success ola railroad. Tomorrow the white
shroud clothes Us, and other men, not we,
ride on the railways we have built.
All the kingdoms of the world, and the
glory of them-what are they when we look
down from the mountain.top?
If God be for us, who, then, can prevail
against us2 And if the thing for which we
strive with our whole souls might is not
earthly riches or greatness, or even to be
happy and beloved, but only to do Gods
will, to make our souls fit temples for His
Spirit, then can there come to US no failure,
since God Himself is on our side, and must
prevail.
So we, if we are Gods children and His
soldiers, can bear what the world calls de-
feat-and look upward and onward to the
coming glory, when the past will be as a
dream to one who awakes, and on the whole
joy of the eternal "Now" our glad souls may
enter